Expansion

[stitchface]

Baseball needs two more teams so we can go to eight divisions of four teams each. Thus, you play one inter-league division one series each for 12 games, the 12 other teams in your league but not your division 9 times, and the teams in your division 18 times. no wildcards - each division winner gets in the playoffs.

 

Possible expansion possibilities:

Portland

Las Vegas

San Antonio/Austin

Charlotte

Memphis

Indianapolis

???

[burnt out cubbie fan]

The last thing baseball needs is 2 more teams.

[stitchface]

Why do you say that?

[Fred Hornkohl]

Having lived in Charlotte recently for a couple of years, I really believe this could be a viable market for MLB. I don't know why they are rarely even mentioned when the subject of franchise moves or expansion comes up.

 

I also believe that the Metro NY market could support another team. Long Island or New Jersey. Just my 2 cents.

[goonys evil twin]

I love this topic, and completely agree.

 

 

All the "it was so much better when" crowd can talk all they want about dilution. History forgets all the crappy ballplayers and teams from those eras. 32 teams is the way to go. Hopefully it's within 3 years.

 

I have an early vote for Las Vegas and Hudson County, New Jersey, on the waterfront.

[Fred Hornkohl]

All the "it was so much better when" crowd can talk all they want about dilution. History forgets all the crappy ballplayers and teams from those eras. 32 teams is the way to go. Hopefully it's within 3 years.

 

In 1945, when the population of the US was 140 million, we had 16 teams in MLB. There were no blacks in MLB then, no Asians, and few Hispanics. Today, with a population of approx. 280 million, there isn't a reason in the world why we couldn't support 32 good, competitve teams in MLB.

[stitchface]

So, you go with a division of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington? I guess the two new teams go to the AL (though not necessarily). I really like the concept of regional divisions.

 

Boston

NYY

New Jersey

Baltimore

 

CHW

Detroit

Cleveland

Toronto

 

NYM

Philadelphia

Pittsburgh

Washington

 

Atlanta

Florida

Houston

Tampa Bay

 

CHC

St. Louis

Milwaukee

Cincinnati

 

CHW

Minnesota

Detroit

Cleveland

 

etc etc

[Backtobanks]

All the "it was so much better when" crowd can talk all they want about dilution. History forgets all the crappy ballplayers and teams from those eras. 32 teams is the way to go. Hopefully it's within 3 years.

 

In 1945, when the population of the US was 140 million, we had 16 teams in MLB. There were no blacks in MLB then, no Asians, and few Hispanics. Today, with a population of approx. 280 million, there isn't a reason in the world why we couldn't support 32 good, competitve teams in MLB.

 

Of course back then you didn't have all of the other sports bombarding you on TV, cable, and satelite on an hourly basis. If baseball was going to expand, there would have to be some sort of financial considerations. Right now you have a handful of teams that aren't being supported while the Yankees are spending over $200 million. Baseball is having trouble calling itself "the National Pastime" and I'm not sure they could support 2 more teams. Look at what happened to the NHL with expansion. Scoring records that were sacred for decades fell to mediocre players. Defensemen started scoring 40+ goals per year.

[goonys evil twin]

So, you go with a division of New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia and Washington? I guess the two new teams go to the AL (though not necessarily). I really like the concept of regional divisions.

 

I think I'd rather see two 8 team divisions. Repetition can be dull. But regional divisions isn't bad.

[goonys evil twin]

All the "it was so much better when" crowd can talk all they want about dilution. History forgets all the crappy ballplayers and teams from those eras. 32 teams is the way to go. Hopefully it's within 3 years.

 

In 1945, when the population of the US was 140 million, we had 16 teams in MLB. There were no blacks in MLB then, no Asians, and few Hispanics. Today, with a population of approx. 280 million, there isn't a reason in the world why we couldn't support 32 good, competitve teams in MLB.

 

Of course back then you didn't have all of the other sports bombarding you on TV, cable, and satelite on an hourly basis. If baseball was going to expand, there would have to be some sort of financial considerations. Right now you have a handful of teams that aren't being supported while the Yankees are spending over $200 million. Baseball is having trouble calling itself "the National Pastime" and I'm not sure they could support 2 more teams. Look at what happened to the NHL with expansion. Scoring records that were sacred for decades fell to mediocre players. Defensemen started scoring 40+ goals per year.

 

Putting a team in densely populated north jersey (not the swamps of the meadowlands, but an easily commutable area of Hudson county), would spread the NY metro area revenue around.

[stitchface]

well, the old format was 12 and 18 and I never found that dull (although the Rockies home schedule always seems dull to me so maybe I do now). I don't see baseball going to shorter playoffs so would that be top four from each league make it? I would prefer to see top three and the winners get a bye from a competition standpoint but that would be one less full round. I also think the 5 games series should be abolished - at least for division winners.

[illiniguy]

good lord there are enough neifi perezs and jose macias now without 2 more teams. if anything they should contract about 5, nyy, boston, chis, stl, and hou.

[stitchface]

the neifi's are there because of poor decision making not lack of talent. a new revenue system would be required though as goony touched on.

 

anyway, I didn't think that through right. You could do 4 eight team divisions and give each division winner a bye. 2nd and 3rd play a five game to advance to meet the division winner in a 7 game.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

No way on expansion. All you need do is get one of the NL teams to agree to move to the AL. Even the leagues at 15 teams each. Then three divisions each of 5 teams each.

 

You play each team outside your division 9 times a season, for 90 games. You play each team in your division 18 times, for 72 games. 90+72=162.

 

Kill the interleague circus. Keep the wild card.

 

That would be my plan. I'd ask Colorado or Washington to volunteer for the NL to AL switch.

[BigbadB]

I love the idea of having 8 four team divisions. Much better balance. Here's a problem that should be easily remedied. One of those spots needs to be out west. Portland or Las Vegas. It will need to be an American League team.

 

Seattle

Oakland

San Fran

LA

LA Angels

San Diego

Arizona

 

This shifts poor Texas and poor Colorado out of the West.

 

I suppose instead of thinking East/West when you get to the midwest, you go Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Cubs in the North, and St. Louis, Houston, Colorado and one someone gets screwed being in the South rather than the East out of Atlanta and Florida. That would leave Phily, NYM, Washington and one of Florida or Atlanta in the East. Not bad.

 

In the AL

 

The West would be Las Vegas or Portland, Angels, Mariners and A's, the North would be White Sox, Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota. The South would be Texas, Kansas City, Tampa Bay and the other expansion team and finally in the East would be NYY, Boston, Toronto and Baltimore.

 

My votes would be Carolina and Las Vegas. If New Orleans didn't just have Katrina wipe out the city, my second votes would be for New Orleans and Portland.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd be for adding two more teams, but along with expansion there needs to come greater revenue sharing. I think in the long run, expansion could be healthy for baseball. If you placed teams in markets that are not located geographically to other teams, you help connect people to the game that may have only a passing interest.

 

I think the following markets could handle a team:

1. Las Vegas

2. Charlotte, NC

3. Portland, OR

4. New Jersey

[stitchface]

You can't split up the cards and cubs or yankees and red sox or dodgers and giants in my opinion.

[UK1679666180]

I'm all for it...

 

I like Vegas and Charlotte as the two cities.

 

NL East:

NYM

Philly

Wash

Pitt

 

NL Central

Cubs

Milw

STL

Col

 

NL South:

ATL

Florida

Hou

Cincy

 

NL West:

AZ

SF

SD

LA

 

AL East:

Bost

Tor

NYY

Balt

 

AL South:

TB

Char.

Texas

KC

 

AL Central:

CWS

Minn

Det

Clev.

 

AL West:

Vegas

Oak

Anaheim

Seattle

 

Colorado is the toughest to find a home for.

 

10 game interdivisional schedule, 14 game intradivisional schedule comes out to 162 games.

Edited October 20, 2005 by UK

[burnt out cubbie fan]

good lord there are enough neifi perezs and jose macias now without 2 more teams. if anything they should contract about 5, nyy, boston, chis, stl, and hou.

This would be the reason I wouldn't want expansion. The league is watered down enough already, there would not be enough good pitching to go around with more teams.

[rocket]

The only problem I have, is that with the current Wild Card situation, you're practically guaranteed that the teams with the #1 and #2 records will get into the playoffs. And the way it's set up in the 32 team scenario, it'd just be the Yankees getting in every season with no other team in the division having a prayer.

 

Keep the Wild Card.

[BigbadB]

The Yankees were no lock to win the division this year.

[Derwood]

I refer you to my previous thread

[stitchface]

The only problem I have, is that with the current Wild Card situation, you're practically guaranteed that the teams with the #1 and #2 records will get into the playoffs. And the way it's set up in the 32 team scenario, it'd just be the Yankees getting in every season with no other team in the division having a prayer.

 

Keep the Wild Card.

 

the yankees and red sox tied this year, didn't they? I would imagine boston would have a prayer. anyway, I think most of us agree that a new revenue system is needed.

 

Colorado belongs with Arizona, Kansas City, Texas . . .teams like that. I think your best bet is to shake up the AL and NL. Tampa belongs with Florida and Atlanta and charlotte.

[BigbadB]

I refer you to my previous thread

 

copycat!

[Derwood]

I refer you to my previous thread

 

copycat!

 

yes, i went back in my time machine to copy today's thread :lol: